Mercury has a number of effects on humans, which are:
- Disruption of the nervous system
- Damage to brain functions
- DNA damage and chromosomal damage
- Allergic reactions, resulting in skin rashes, tiredness and headaches
- Negative reproductive effects, such as sperm damage, birth defects and miscarriages
Enviromental effects of mercury
If mercury mixes with water or soil it can convert to methyl mercury which can be absorbed by plants and animals. When that happes, for example if a fish absorbs the mercury, what ever eats the fish it will also be contaminated my the mercury. Mercury affects the animals almost in the same way as humans. It gives kidneys damage, stomach disruption, damage to intestines, reproductive failure and DNA alteration.
Plants
Plants will have higher levels of mercury in their roots because its there where they absorb it but some plants can accumulate mercury in the air (atmosphric mercury) in its leaves. for example plants near mercury-contaminated mining sites. Defferent types of soild can affect how much mercury is absorbed in a plant. Brids
In birds mercury attacks their liver and kidneys and can be found in their eggs too. Fishes
Fishes absorb the mercury through water and it deposits in the soft edible tissues of the fish. Back to Table of contents
- Disruption of the nervous system
- Damage to brain functions
- DNA damage and chromosomal damage
- Allergic reactions, resulting in skin rashes, tiredness and headaches
- Negative reproductive effects, such as sperm damage, birth defects and miscarriages
Enviromental effects of mercury
If mercury mixes with water or soil it can convert to methyl mercury which can be absorbed by plants and animals. When that happes, for example if a fish absorbs the mercury, what ever eats the fish it will also be contaminated my the mercury. Mercury affects the animals almost in the same way as humans. It gives kidneys damage, stomach disruption, damage to intestines, reproductive failure and DNA alteration.Plants will have higher levels of mercury in their roots because its there where they absorb it but some plants can accumulate mercury in the air (atmosphric mercury) in its leaves. for example plants near mercury-contaminated mining sites. Defferent types of soild can affect how much mercury is absorbed in a plant.
Brids
In birds mercury attacks their liver and kidneys and can be found in their eggs too.
Fishes
Fishes absorb the mercury through water and it deposits in the soft edible tissues of the fish.